Air-line gauge



J- H. MARCUM A1B LINE GAUGE Dec. 13, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VEN TOR.

#free/yay@ 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. H. MARCUM AIR LINE GAUGE Filed Feb. 6, 1948 Dec. 13, 1949 l u W n T. c N m 0,. W V n r w. M 3 am M l 5 m MY B W w. w mm@ wmmw MN Sv NN lik, l., \\v\\`\\ .Rl y kv R w WI l .l WX u| @e Nw i l 4f u wm wmwwk mi mx. r///////////// /7 7/ uw Patented Dec. 13, 1949 AIR-LINE GAUGE James ll-I. Marcuin, Cleveiand Heights, Ohio, as-

signor to The Dill Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ghia, a corporation of @hic Application February 6, 1948, Serial No. 6,727

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a combined tire inating device and pressure gauge generally known as an air line gauge.

This invention is an improvement on the devices disclosed in Moody Patents Nos. 1,879,404, September 27, 1932, and 2,040,868, May 19, 1936, and Crowley Patent No. 2,285,569, June 9, 1942.

An object of the invention is to provide an airline gauge which combines a tire inating device and pressure gauge and which is so constructed and shaped that it can be handled and manipulated with great facility and the operator by a simple squeezing action of one hand can change the gauging function of the device to an inflating function or vice versa.

Another object is to provide an airline gauge of the type speciiied which is manipulated by means of a handle portion of such size and shape as to be readily grasped by one hand of the operator and wherein the movable actuating element for changing the function of the device from a gauging function to an iniiating function or vice Versa is located on the underside of the handle portion and movement is imparted thereto by the operator merely squeezing the handle portion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined tire inating device and pressure gauge wherein a main valve controls the pressure fluid flow to the device from a supply source, a manually actuated means mechanically controls the opening of said main valve,Y and shiftable selector valve means responsive when the main valve is open to the uid pressure in the device for movement to interrupt the flow of pressure fluid to the pressure gauge.

Another object is to provide an air line gauge of the type referred to and which is of simple construction, is formed of relatively few parts, is easily assembled and disassembled, utilizes in its organization readily made or conventional eleit? ments or parts and provides for the ready disassembly and replacement of the various parts or elements. l

Further and additional objects and advantages not hereinbelore specified will become apparent during the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention which is to follow and which embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. l is a top plan View of the air line gauge and inating device embodying the invention with the chuck hose omitted.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view tal-:en substantially on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, with the chuck hose (Ci. IS7-69.5)

and air chuck attached to the device and shown partly in section and partly in elevation, the

parts being shown in their normal relationship,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig.

but on a larger scale and showing the operative parts of the air line gauge in dierent relationship than that of Fig. 2, and wherein the chuck hose. is in communication with the air line and. is'

out of communication with the pressure gauge.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 6 6 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 'l-l' of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional viewtaken substantially on line 8 8 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows, and v Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 9 9 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The air line gauge and inflating device embodying the present invention comprises a housing H and a detachable cover C adapted to be secured in position on the housing` The housing H is substantially U-shaped in cross section while the cover C is of inverted U-shape in cross section when assembled on the housing, the depending legs ci the cover being substantially shorter than the upstanding legs of the housing. When the cover and housing are secured together they form an elongated relatively narrow casing which can be conveniently grasped by the one hand of an operator. in use the device is held by the operator so that the cover C is uppermost to facilitate the reading of the pressure gauge and the operation of the device.

The right hand end of the housing H, as viewed in Fig. 2, is provided with an upwardly curved wall portion l0 uniting the legs ll and I2 of the housing. This upwardly curved wall portion I0 of the housing is provided with an opening I3 for i the housing H is cut away to provide an opening,

3 as indicated at I6 in Fig. 6, and the lower edges of the walls II and l2 of the housing H at this location are upwardly inclined, as indicated at I'I in Fig. 2, from the bottom wall I5 to the arcuate extension portion I4.

The cover C at its right hand end as viewed in 2 is provided with a downwardly extending wall I8 interconnecting the legs is and 26 oi the cover and aligning with the upper end of the upwardly curved portion I0 of the housing when the cover is secured in position on the housing. The left hand end of the cover as viewed in Fig. 2 is provided 'with an arcuate extension portion 2l which when the cover and housing are secured together forms a cylindrical neck on the device. This cylindrical neck has secured therein a cylindrical iitting head 22 which eX- tends inwardly of the cylindrical neck and is secured in position by screws or other suitable means 2.3 carried by the portions I4 and 2l forming the cylindrical neck. if desire-d the head may be iormecl of two interconnected parts, in place of the single integral head shown in the drawings. The outer end of the, iitting head 22 is provided with a. tapered threaded counterbore 24 for the purpose of enabling an air line to be attached to the device by means. o a suitable threaded. coupling, it being understood that such air line, extends from a source of sup-ply of compressedv air. with a bore 25 which communicates with a counterbore 2@ formed in the fitting head 2z and which communicates, inY turn, with a threaded counterbore 2l. formed; inthe inner end of the fitting head. 22.. in its. bQttom. with anV annular shoulder 28 for a purpose later to be explained.

Referring to Fig. '7, it will be seen that an inverted' U-shaped' strap 29 has. its legs extending into the housing l-l and closely fitting the inner sides of the upstanding legs l l and I2 of the housing. The legs of the inverted U-shaped strap 29. are. providedY with outwardly extending. bosses 3IJ` which project into openings formed in the legs II and I2 of the housing, it beingunderstood. that in assembling the strap 29 to. the housing the legs II and I2 of the latter are spread apart until the bosses 353 snap into the openings re,- ferred to. The inverted U-shaped strap 29 extends above the open upper side of the housing. H and interts the interior ofthe cover C where.- forea securing screw 3l carried by the cover can be screwed into the bottom or base of the inverted' U-shaped strap 29 to clamp the. cover in position on the housing.

It will. be noted that the cover is held in position on the housing by the screws 23 and 3l and may be readily removed from the housing by simply removing said screws and, hence, access is readily obtained to the parts within the housing. The cover C. is provided with an opening 32 and interiorly of. said opening has a cylindrical inwardly extending flange constituted of the arcuate inturned flanges 33' formed from the materiall severed from the cover to produce the open- 5* ing. The. opening receives within the cylindrical. flange. 33 the convex dome-shaped. portion 34 of a. magnifying button which also. is provided on. its inner end with a cylindrical portion. 35, tangentially contacting the legs la and 2@ of the cover and provided at the points of tangency with V-shaped recesses 3%. The recesses 35 are adapted to receive complementally shaped knobs formed on the inner sides of the legs I9 and The counterbore 24 communicates.

The counterbore .21. is provided lt will be understood that the magnifying i button 3il may be inserted into the opening 32` and held in position therein by the snap action.

of the knobs 3l engaging in the recesses 3E.

This provides a ready means of assembling the'.

magnifying button in the device while insuring that it will be heldin properly assembled position.. The. magnifying button overlies the scale bar' later to be referred to of a suitable pressure gauge and may be formed of glass, plastic or other suit-4 able material capable of magnifying the gradu ations and numerals appearing on the adjacent.

side of the scale bar.

21. opening communicating with the counterbore 25 in the head 22 and with a central bore in the` l; nut 39 and said opening in the Washer 33 is nor-- mally closed by means of a main valve 4.0 lo-V cated in the counterbore 2S of the head 22' and held seated against the washer by' a. valve spring.'

The main valve lil is provided with a valve pin. s2 extending through the opening in the washery 38 into the central opening in the nut 3S., The

be, moved toward the gasket 38 to engage the same as indicated in Fig. 5 and when so moved' the valve pin l2 will be engaged by suitably'.

shaped diametrically disposed flats e305 located interiorly of the actuating head 43 and effect mechanically an unseating of the valve lll against'` The valve actuatingv head 43 is externally threaded and has a screwedi the action of the spring 4I.

connection to the open end of an elongated cupshaped member iti that is provided in its closed' end with a central opening 45 for a purpose later to be explained. The actuating head 43 and the cup-shaped member le may be termed jointly as an endwise shiftable tubular member. The cup-shaped member 44 is provided with an internal shoulder t constituting a valve seat while the inner end oi the valve actuating head 43 is indicated at il and also constitutes a valve seat. The cup-shaped member 44 has a pressed t in diametrally alignedopenings formed in the upstanding reduced end portion 48 of an air tube.. said portion 5B of the tube merging with a portion 49 thereof of larger diameter and extending longitudinally of the housing H and projecting outwardly of the opening I3 in the end of the housing and provided with a tapered threaded end Ell located outwardly of the housing for a i purpose later to be explained.

rlhe manner in which the cup-shaped member All has pressed iit in the portion 48 of the air tube is clearly shown in Fig. 9 and it will be noted that said cup-shaped member ill is provided with an opening 5ta communicating with the air tube while the cup-shaped member lil seals the inner open` end of said tube. An endwise movable valve pin is mounted in the actuating head @i3 and in the. cup-shaped` member ld and comprises a :dat

`= portion `5l which has a guiding sliding fitl in the actuating head d3, a rounded pin portion 52 which extends through the opening l5 in the closed end oi the cup-shaped member e4 and an intermediate portion which mounts valve gaskets and 5d adapted to seat, respectively, on

the internal shoulder 46 oi the cup-shaped member and on the end 41 of the valve actuating head. A coil spring 55 surrounding the pin portion 52 tends to normally urge the valves toward the left as viewed in the drawings to seat the valve gasket 54 on the end 4'! of the actuating head 43. This is the condition that obtains when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 and at such time the interior of the air tube is in communication with the opening 45 in the bottom oi the cupshaped member 44. When the actuating head 43 and cup-shaped member 44 are moved to the position shown in Fig. 5, at which time the actuating head has seated on the gasket 38, then the main valve 4D is unseated and air from the air line enters the head 43 and moves the valve gaskets 54 and 53 toward the right against the action of the coil spring 55 until the valve gasket 53 is seated on the shoulder 45. At this time the air tube is in communication with the counterbore 26 in the tting head 22 and with the air line extending from the source of compressed air. The valve pin and valve gaskets 53 and 54 may be termed as shiftable selector valve means In order that the operator may conveniently move the air tube, the cup-shaped member 44 and the valve actuating head 43 from the normal position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 5 the following arrangement is employed.

An actuating trigger 56 substantially U-shaped of the cover C. The leg portions 51 of the actuating trigger carry laterally projecting headed rivet-like trunnions 58, the heads of which are rockably mounted in cooperating semi-circular recesses formed in the upper edge of the legs of the housing and in the lower edge of the legs of the cover, wherefore the trigger 55 can be rocked about the axis of said trunnions inwardlyV and outwardly of the housing. A block 59 is located intermediate the legs of the trigger 5e and is provided with an opening through which extends the portion 49 of the air tube. The block 59 mounts a pin 5i! which has its opposite ends projecting into vertically elongated openings 6| formed in the legs of the trigger 55. The pin E!) extends into a chordal-like recess or cut out por- J Cil actuating head 43 is out of contact with the gasket 33 and the main valve 45 is seated. The axial center of the pin 5s at this time is located in the plane of line A. When the .trigger 5e is pressed inwardly of the housing the axial center of the pin 60 shifts from the plane of line -A to the plane of line B and the valve actuating head 43 is moved by the endwise movement of the air tube from the position shown in Fig. 2 into the position shown in Fig. 5, at which time the main valve 45 is unseated and the head 43 is engaging the gasket 38, The air tube and the trigger 55 and their associated parts are held in the normal position shown in Fig. 2 by spring means now to be explained.V

Referring to Figs. 2 and 7, it will be seen that a U-shaped bracket has its base 62 Vsecured by suitable means such as a rivet to the bottom or base of the housing H while the legs 63 of the bracket extend upwardly within the housing adjacent the -inner sides of the walls I l and l2 of the housing. The portion 49 of the air tube passes between the legs 63 and a washer 64 mounted on the portion 49 of the air tube is held in abutting engagement with the legs 53 by means of a coil spring 65 mounted on the tube portion 49 and abutting a collar 65 xed to said tube portion. It will be observed that the spring 65 tends at all times to urge the air tube endwise toward the right as viewed in Fig. 2 and when the operator squeezes the trigger 56 to move the air tube endwise from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 5 he must exert sufficient pressure on the trigger to overcome the action of the spring 55. Of course as soon as the operator releases the pressure on the trigger 56 the spring (i5 functions to move the parts into the normal position shown in Fig. 2.

The threaded tapered end 50 of the air tube has screwed to it a ntting t? which is connected to a flexible chuck hose 53 mounting at its end an air chuck 65 of well known construction. The air chuck 89 enables the device to be connected to the valve stem of an inflatable container such as a pneumatic tire and when the chuck is applied to the valve stem the chuck valve 'Hl will be unseated against the action of the chuck valve spring 1i while the valve core in the valve stem will be unseated to place the chuck hose in communi-cation with the inflatable article all as well understood in the art.

The device also includes a pressure gauge which comprises a gauge head l2, a gauge cylinder or casing 13 attached to the head 12 at one end and having threadedly attached thereto adjacent its other end a closure and supporting member or nut 54.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the Aclosure member 'i4 is provided on its side edges with laterally projecting ears 'i5 which when the device is assembled extend into notches 15 formed in the upper edges of the legs i i and l2 of the housing and notches 'I1 formed in the lower edges of the downwardly extending legs I9 and 2!) of the cover, In this way the right hand end of the gauge is supported in the device and is held against endwise movement. The left hand end of the gauge is supported by having the cupshaped member 44 telescope within the counterbore 18 of the gauge head 12. The pressure gauge may be readily removed from or placed in the device when the cover C is removed from the housing. Mounted in the bottom of the counterbore 18 is a gasket 19, while a felt or other filter member is mounted in the gauge head 'i2 in a counterbore adjoining the gasket i9. This latter counterbore communicates with a third counterbo're which in turn communicates with a bore 8! that extends to and is in communication with the interior of the gauge. The gauge further comprises a piston 82 which mounts a cup-shaped piston packing 83 that is held expanded by a gasket 34 against the Cylinder wall. The piston 32 is threadedly connected to a piston rod 85 that carries a head 85 clamping the cup-shaped packing to the piston while beyond the head 86 the rod 85 is provided with a smooth portion 8'! having free clearance in the central opening of the gasket i4 and mounting at its end a head 58 that is provided with a diametrally extending groove 85 registering with thebore 8i in the gauge head 12. The piston rod 85 is adjustably and thread- :in the drawings.

fedly` connectedto a sleeved@ formed integral with Voneiend of a bar Si which projects through an vopening S2 in the supporting and `closing member 'M .at the right hand end o the gauge as viewed This opening S2 is of such size and shape that it guides the endwise movements ofthe bar therethrough. The bar 9i has secured to it on its upper side, as viewed in the drawings,

.a scale plate t3 bearing suitable graduations or scale marks and indicia representing iiuid pressure in pounds, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. The scale plate S3 underlies the magnifying button EA so that the graduations and indicia are magnied and easily read. A coil spring S surrounds the-bar di and abuts at one end the closure and supporting member 'ift and at its other end a washer Q5 loosely mounted in the gauge and engaging one end of a second and weaker coil spring ,stronger spring 94.

The details of the construction having been described the operation of the device will now be set forth to fully bring out the utility thereof and the advantages inherent therein. It will be asn sumed that the head 22 is connected to an air line extending from a source of compressed air and that the trigger 555 and air tube d, i9 are in their fr normal position due to the action of the spring G5. At this time the valve actuating head 63 is out of contact with the gasket and is in the position shown in Fig. 2, wherefore the main valve .Aidis seated and hence no air is iiowing through the opening in the gaskexJ se'. At this time the spring in the cup-shaped member 44 moves the valve pin 5?. or the shiftable selector valve means toward the left as viewed in the drawings until the valve gasket 54 is contacting the right hand end 5l of the valve actuating head 133 while the valve gasket 153 is out of contact with the shoulder d and is so positioned that the air tube d3, A@ is in communication with the pressure gauge. The air line gauge or device at this time is ready for use and it will be assumed that the operator grasps the device with one hand so as to have his fingers engaging the trigger 5t while with the other hand he applies the air chuck @9 to the valve stem of the tire or container that is to have its pressure read and inflated if necessary. llhe application of the chuck til to the valve stem unseats the chuck valve l@ and the valve of the valve core in the valve stem and places the chuck hose 68 in communication with the interior oi the tire or the container. Consequently the air pressure in the tire or container flows as indicated by the yarrows in Fig. 2 through the air tube 33, Alt, past the valve gasket 53 and into the interior of the cup-shaped member 4Q from whence it ows around the pin 52 and through the opening ce of the cup-shaped member and into the counterbore i8 of the gauge head l2. From the counterbore l@ the air pressure flows through the lter Sil into the bore 8l and into the diametral groove Se of the head 33. The air pressure from this diarnetral groove flows around the head 88 through the opening in the gasket 84 and acts against the head tt as well as against the gasket 84 to move the gauge piston toward the right and 8 against-the action of the springs 94, 36, thus co1'- respondingly shifting the bar 9! and gauge plate 93 so that the operator by observing the magnifying button 3ft can read the air pressure in the tire.

Assuming this reading shows the tire or inflatable container should be iniiated to a greater pressure the operator moves the trigger inwardly of the housing by squeezing or gripping the device tightly with his hand and such movement ci the trigger from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shownin Fig. 5 moves the air tube d3, '45 endwise a distance equal to the distance between the lines A and VB of Fig. 5, thus shifting the valve actuating a corresponding distance and from tre position of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 5, at which time it engaging the gasket 38 and through its Contact wi the valve pin 22 has seated the main valve @il against the action ci the spring 1li. Therefore the compressed air from the source ci supply now flows through the opening in the gaslret ES and into the head as indicated by the arrows in 5. This air pressure acting on the valve gasket 5c oi the shiitable selector valve means overcomes the action of the spring 55 and shirts the valve gaskets Si and 53 and the valve pin from the position shown in 2 into the position shown in Fig. 5, at which time the valve gasket 53 is seated against the shoulder to interrupt air icw tothe pressure gauge while the air tube dt, is in communication with the interior of the head i3 and hence the compressed air can now from said head into said air tube as indicated the arrows in Fig. 5. This compressed air ilowing through the air tube passes into the chuck hose through the chuck into the valve stem and the tire or container being inflated. 'When the operator decides that the tire or container has been inflated to the i* proper pressure he releases the squeezing or gripping action of his hand on the trigger 56, whereupon the spring ed moves the trigger and the air tube 33, di? from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. results in the valve actuating head moving out of contact with the gasket 3S and allowing the main valve l to be seated against said gasket under the action of the spring l i, thus interrupting the ow of compressed air from the source of supply. When this condition obtains the spring move. the valve gaskets 53, 54 oi the shiitable selector valve means from the position shown in 5 to the position shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the pressure gauge is in communication with the air tube 38, @it as indicated by the Varrows in Fig. V2. Therefore the air pressure in the inated tire now acts on the gauge son to move the piston toward the right against the action of the springs 951, 95 to indicate the pressure to which the tire has been inated. If the pressure indicated is the correct pressure the operator now r moves the chucir 59 from the valve stem and places the air line gauge or device down in a suitable place awaiting its next use, whereupon the springs of the air gauge move the gauge piston back to its most left hand position However, it will be assumed that the indicated p essure is not up to the desired pressure, whereupon the operator again squeezes the trigger 5% inwardly to eiect opening of the main valve e@ to place the tire in communication with the compressed air source of supply, all as has been previously described, until he estimates that the desired pressure has been built up in e `tire, whereupon he releases his grip on the triggr 55 and again takes a pressure reading.

From the foregoing detailed description of the construction and the explanation of its mode of operation it will be seen that the air line gauge embodying the present invention facilitates effectively and efficiently the inflation of a tire or inflatable container and the reading of the inflated pressure thereof. t will also have been noted that the device is so constructed that it maybe readily and conveniently used by the operator. In addition, it will be seen that the removable cover C enables the parts to be readily and quickly assembled and especially will it be noted that the air gauge can be readily removed from the device for purposes of adjustment, repair or replacement, this being accomplished after the cover C has been removed by merely lifting the right hand end of the gauge out of the notches 'it and then moving the gauge toward the right until the head l2 is free of the cup-shaped member lili.

It will also have been noted that the device is formed of sturdy parts of simple construction and which parts will not readily get out of order or wear rapidly during use. The air line gauge embodying the present invention adequately and completely accomplishes each and every one of the objects hereinbefore specied.

Although a preferred embodiment of +he invention has been illustrated and described herein it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of various modications and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described lmy invention l claim:

l. An air line gauge and inflating device comprising a housing having means for connecting an air line thereto, an endwise shiftable tubular member in said housing in communication with said means, a main valve carried by said means and when closed interrupting said communication but adapted to be opened by said member when the latter is shifted in one direction, means urging said valve toward closed position, a pressure gauge in said housing operatively associated and in communication with said member, an air tube operatively associated and in communication with said member and extending outwardly of said housing and adapted to be connected to an air chuck hose, shiftable selector valve means in said member normally maintained by biasing means in a position wherein said air tube is in communication with said pressure gauge through said mem,

ber but shiftable by air pressure in said member when said main valve is opened to a position wherein communication between said tube and pressure gauge is interrupted but said tube remains in communication with said member and said rst means, and manually actuated means operatively associated with said member for shifting the same endwise to open said main valve and effect shifting of said selector valve means from normal position.

2. An air line gauge and infiating device comprising a housing having means for connecting an air line thereto, an endwise shiftable tubular member in said housing in communication with said means, a main valve carried by said means and when closed interrupting said communication and adapted to be opened by said member when the latter is shifted in one direction, means urging said valve toward closed position, a pressure gauge in said housing operatively associated and in communication with said member, an air tube operatively associated and in communication with said member and extending outwardly of said housing and adapted to be connected to an air chuck hose, shiftable selector valve means in said member normally maintained by biasing means in a position wherein said air tube is in communication with said pressure gauge through said member but shiftable by air pressure in said member when said main valve is opened to a position wherein communication between said tube and pressure gauge is interrupted but said tube remains in communication with said member and said rst means, manually actuated means for shifting said member endwise to open said main valve and eifect shifting of said selector valve means from normal position, and means operatively interconnecting said air tube and said manually actuated means wherefore movement of the latter moves said air tube and said member.

3. An air line gauge and iniiating device as defined in claim 2 and wherein said manually actuated means is pivotally associated with said housing internally thereof.

4. An air line gauge and inflating device comprising an elongated housing which is substantially U-shaped in cross section and is provided on its underside with an opening, means carried by said housing for connecting an air line thereto, an endwise shiftable tubular member in said housing in communication with said means, a main valve carried by said means and when closed interrupting said communication but adapted to be opened by said member when the latter is shifted in one direction, means urging said valve toward closed position, a pressure gauge in said housing operatively associated and in communication with said member, an air tube operatively associated and in communication with said member and extending outwardly of said housing and adapted to be connected to an air chuck hose, shiftable selector valve means in said member normally maintained by biasing means in a position wherein said air tube is in communication with said pressure gauge through said member but shiftable by air pressure in said member when said main valve is opened to a position wherein communication between said tube and pressure gauge is interrupted but said tube remains in communication with said member and said first means, a manually actuated trigger extending through said opening in said housing and substantially U- shaped in cross section and having its legs pivotally connected interiorly to the side walls of said housing and straddling said air tube, and means operatively interconnecting said trigger and said tube wherefore pivotal movement of the trigger inwardly of said housing shifts said tube and said member to open said main valve.

5. An air line gauge and inflating device as defined in claim 4 and wherein the means which operatively interconnects the air tube and the trigger comprises a block through which said air tube extends, a transverse pin connecting said air tube to said block, and aligned openings in the legs of said trigger receiving the opposite ends of said pin.

6. An air line gauge and inflating device as defined in claim 4 and wherein spring means is associated with said air tube for urging said tube, said member and said trigger into normal positionwherein said main valve is closed.

7. An air line gauge and inflating device as defined in claim 4 and wherein a coil spring is mounted on said air tube and has its opposite 11 ends vabutting respectively a xed abutment carried by said housing and an abutment block fixed to said air tube.

.8. An -air line gauge and inflating .device as defined 'in claim 4 and wherein said air tube is provided adjacent its inner Yend with diametrally aligned openings While said tubular member extends through said openings with a pressed iit therein and seals the open inner end of the air tube, said tubular member being vprovided with an Yopening providing said communication with said air :.tube.

9. An air line gauge and inflating device ccmprising a housing having means .for connecting an air line thereto, a cover for said housing, means for securing said cover to the housing, an air tube in said housing and extending outwardly thereof and adapted to be connected to an air chuck hose, a pressure gauge in said housing, control means in said housing for selectively connecting said air tube with said air line connecting means 'or with said pressure gauge and detachably supporting said pressure gauge, said housing and said cover having cooperating notches in their adjacent contacting edges and said pressure gauge being provided with lug means extending into said cooperating notches and supporting said pressure gauge in said housing, wherefore when said cover is removed from said housing said pressure gauge may be readily removed therefrom by disengaging said lug means from said notches and said pressure gauge from said control means.

10. An air line gauge and inflating device as dened in claim 9 and wherein said pressure gauge includes an elongated tubular casing having therein an endwise movable scale bar projecting outwardly of one end of the casing, a closure member for said one end of the casing and provided with an opening through which said scale bar extends, said closure member being provided with said lug means which engage in said cooperating notches, the other end of said casing having a telescoping supporting relationship with said control means .that selectively places the air tube .in communication with the air line connecting means or with the pressure gauge.

l1. An air line gauge and inflating ,device comprising a housing having means for connecting an air line thereto, a cover for said housing, means for securing said cover to the housing, an airvtube in said housing and extending outwardly thereof and adapted to be connected to an air chuck hose, a pressure gauge in said housing and having a movable scale bar projecting from one end of the gauge, a closure member for said one end of the gauge and provided with an opening through which said scale bar extends, said housing and cover having cooperating notches in their adjacent contacting edges, said closure member being provided with lugs extending into said notches, means in said housing for selectively connecting said air tube with said air line connecting means or with said pressure gauge, the other end of said pressure gauge having a telescoping supporting relationship with said last named means, said cover having an opening overlying said scale bar and provided adjacent said opening with inwardly eX- tending projections, and a magnifying vbutton in said opening and provided with recesses into f, which said projections extend to retain the button in position.

JAMES I-I. MARCUM.

REFERENGES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,059,037 Collar Apr. 15, 1913 1,527,661 Anderson Feb. 24, 1925` 2,040,868 Moody May 19, 1936 2,285,569 Crowley June 9, 1942 

